| Keep Preschoolers Cool about School | | | | Read about school or help your child to |
| The first day of school is a momentous occasion | | | | play school with youor with friends. |
| for parent andchild. Excitement, tinged with | | | | Reinforce basic safety rules. Your child should |
| uncertainty, fills the weeksbefore September. | | | | be able to sayhis or her name and address clearly. |
| Anxious mothers coax awkward | | | | Try helping your childmemorize your home phone |
| five-year-oldfingers to tie shoelaces (or give up | | | | number, too; it may be easier if yousing it |
| and buy sneakers with | | | | together to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little |
| Velcro), while proud fathers urge their children to | | | | Star. |
| write theirown names or recite the alphabet. | | | | Encourage friendships with neighborhood |
| It used to be that children entering the school | | | | children who are alsostarting kindergarten. |
| system wereexpected to have mastered certain | | | | Knowing even one child who will be sharingthat |
| skills before arriving, buttimes have changed, | | | | first day can make a big difference. |
| according to Marilyn Philbrick, a primaryeducation | | | | Tell your child to choose something from |
| co-coordinator for a large, progressive school | | | | home to take toschool. A favorite small toy or |
| board. | | | | family photo can help easehomesickness. |
| We recognize that children develop at | | | | Take advantage of introductory days when |
| different rates, and thereare no skills as such that | | | | you and your child canmeet the teacher and have |
| we insist a child learn beforeentering kindergarten. | | | | an advance look at the kindergartenclassroom. |
| What we like to see is a child who hasconfidence | | | | Maintain a cheerful attitude towards school; |
| and a positive attitude. | | | | chances are yourchild will then feel cheerful about |
| Still, starting school marks a child’s first | | | | it, too. |
| step into the worldoutside the family. There are | | | | A kindergarten program should provide a warm, |
| changes and challenges to face. | | | | caring andfun-loving environment sensitive to |
| It’s a rare parent or child who can let | | | | individual differences, whereeach child has an |
| go without some pain. | | | | opportunity to advance at his or her own rate. |
| To ease the transition from home or nursery | | | | As children progress, they learn new things and |
| school tokindergarten, practice these strategies | | | | meet new people. |
| during summer: | | | | Your encouragement can help them feel good |
| Talk about school. First-day jitters are | | | | about themselves andtheir accomplishments; in |
| common, but beingfrightened may be more | | | | years to come, this new-foundindependence will |
| manageable if you encourage your child toexpress | | | | bring its own rewards, not only in school, butin the |
| his or her feelings. | | | | rest of the big wide world, as well. |